The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-07-20
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
The Story Of My Strange De-
liverance.

There was touch of comedy in the
first and decided tragedy in the lat
ter scenes of n drama in real life, in
which l played, involuntarily, lead
ing part, which has always been inter-
esting in its telling, and may be
equally so when written and read.
1t was about a month after the close
of our civil war when l was stationed
at u town on the Mississippi, in LOUISE
ana, busily engaged, in connection
with my duties us Provost Marshal of
the division and district, in paroling
The many ex-Confederates who were
constantly coming in-most of them
sick and worn, all hungry and dirty.
Old Colonel c., good rebel and
fine gentleman, considered himself
nnder obligations to me for sending to
his home in an ambulance, his young.
brave, gray-coated and very sick
soldier son, and he continually invited
me to accept of his hearty old-fash-
Toned Southern hospitality at the home
plantation about eight miles from our
post. He had three young daughters,
good rebels all, but pretty, bright,
sensible ladies, whose political opinions
never tainted their courtesy. was
glad to seek such pleasant company,
and often did so.
Ireceived notice one day from the
Colonel, that the next Sunday would
be Miss Georgia's birthday-that my
presence would add to the joyousness
of the occasion, and that there would
be ample home products for egg-nogg,
which latter intimation I we'll under
stood to mean that l would be greatly
thanked if brought the spirituous in
gradients for that seductive concoc-
lion.
Early on the day mentioned I
mounted with two canteens, one of
whisky and one of Jamaica rum, fast
ened to my saddle-bow, and with no
weapons. Necessity required that 1
should be in uniform passing through
our troops and lines, and as the day
was very, very warm l wore only a
flannel undershirt beneat my closely
buttoned, double breasted coat, and
strapped behind me clean white gar
nent and two collars, polished in the
best style of the laundry art I knew
would have to throw off my tight
fitting "harness" on my arrival to put
On the light gray jacket the Colonel
always insisted suited me better than
the blue and brass, and I wanted to
look 'nice.
The road was long, hot and terribly
dusty. About five hundred yards from
my place of destination I stopped,
picketed my horse inside the fence,
retired to thick grove of light under
brush, l well knew, and through which
ran little stream of clear water. l
dlsrobed and bathed. then, fresh, cool
and clean, | proceeded to prepare for
inspection and review. / was strug-
Cling with the over-starched "biled
shirt head and arms hidden, when l
heard the cracking of twigs. AS
thrust my head, with hair all tumbled,
through the bosom opening of the
garment, | looked directly into the
muzzles of three revolvers and one
shotgun, all held within five feet of,
and on line with, my head in man
ner not calculated to increase q mans
appetite for the contents.
Behind each weapon was villain
Gus outlaw, specimens of that class
who were rebels and murderers with
Union men and murderers and Yam
KEGS with the Confederate men, who
met with no mercy or sympathy from
'he true soldier of either side. Worse
still, recognized from descriptions
OFTEN given ME, that one of the party
was Mat Kingsley. whose house, near
Inc post, had been forced to take as
small box hospital, and who, I had
heard, vowed vengence upon me for
the act.
There was nothing to do but ''throw
up my hands," and / did it. There
was no use in arguing or pleading with
such a gang, so | put bold front on
tne matter and tried to compromise.
had couple of hundred dollars in
greenbacks in my pocket and these,
with my horse, l offered if they would
nee me, They laughed the PROPOSE
ZION to seorn. They had ME and all
these belonging to me. and intended to
part with nothing. They had not ex-
peeted such luck as finding me, being
on their way to some other cowardly,
thieving expedition, and securing me
was prize unexpected
Quickly as possible was stripped of
every piece of clothing and made to
replace it with the ragged, vermin-in-
tested rags of my captors. l was
warned that if made the least outcry
my brains would spatter the brush i'm
mediately, aud knew the threat was
IN earnest